Tensions are simmering in the Lango sub-region as a prominent war claimants’ coordinator has made a desperate appeal to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for intervention, highlighting the plight of 880 mobilizers and the prolonged suffering of communities still awaiting cattle compensation nearly two decades after the insurgency ended.
Mr. Obua Sam, the Regional Coordinator for the War Claimants in the Lango sub-region, has written directly to the President, reminding him of a pivotal 2006 meeting at Gulu Barracks where the President requested camp leaders to convey his apology to the people of Lango and promised to address their grievances if re-elected . Obua states that since then, he and a network of 880 mobilizers have consistently campaigned for the President but have received no support or recognition from the State House .
The letter details the long and frustrating journey for justice following the 2014 High Court ruling that awarded compensation to over 69,475 claimants for livestock lost during the insurgency . However, claimants like Obua say they are still waiting for payment .
"In 2006, when the whole of Lango tribe were in different I.D.P Camps, you asked Hon. Sam Engola to mobilise all forty-six camp leaders to meet with you at Gulu Barracks... we met you and discussed many issues concerning the griefs that Lango had," reads part of the letter. "We camp leaders came back... to mobilise presidential votes and identify the people who lost their cattle from 1986 to 2004."
The appeal comes amid growing frustration in the region regarding the compensation process, which has been marred by allegations of fraud, political interference, and a leadership crisis among the claimants themselves . In May 2026, a planned demonstration by war claimants was called off after a high-level security meeting promised them an audience with the President . However, Obua’s letter suggests that this promise has yet to be fulfilled.
Obua further underscored his personal distress, revealing that his wife is in critical condition with a peptic ulcer and high blood pressure, and he himself suffers from diabetes. He also stated he has 25 children who are not properly educated, and he is unable to farm due to the demands of his mobilization work.
The letter requests Presidential support for the 880 mobilizers and a meeting to address the long-standing compensation issue. The group has previously warned that continued government inaction could affect the political landscape in the region .
The Lango Parliamentary Group has also been vocal on the matter, demanding that the government honor the court decree . The government has allocated funds, but leaders argue that the pace of disbursement is too slow, with some claiming it would take a century to clear all verified claims .
